Buy PC Without an OS... Get a Visit From MSFT?

sebFlyte writes "'Don't sell PCs without operating systems or we'll send the boys round.' That seems to be the general message coming out of microsoft's antipiracy unit, according to ZDNet. While MS seems to accept that people might want to get hold of PCs without Windows so they can put Linux on them, they don't think that's a good enough excuse. "We want to urge all system builders -- indeed, all Partners -- not to supply naked PCs. It is a risk to your customers and a risk to your business," says Microsoft. The FSF has given this policy short shrift, saying: "It looks like a private sniffing service which is supposed to spy on these who do not want to pay the Microsoft tax anymore. It is an incredible piece of impudence.""

Comments

Re:Ummm....

[AviLazar]

Because monopoly means one, and well since I have the option of getting Mac OS, Linux OS, Unix OS, FreeBSD OS, etc then there really is no monopoly.

Businesses are allowed to encourage (ask) their vendors to only utilize their products - nothing is wrong with this. They can offer money and other incentives (i.e. for every copy of my product that you sell, I will give you a free apple). It becomes wrong when they use methods such as "only use our product, which is the number one product anyhow, or we will pull it from your shelves and you will lose 80% of your customer base".